Qualifying practice and heats took place under the rain with a few surprising results. Further heats will follow on Saturday, October 21st, while the final stages with Live Streaming will be on Sunday, October 22nd.
The weekend of the 51st Trofeo delle Industrie begins with rain on the first official day of the event taking place at the South Garda Karting track in Lonato. The qualifying sessions and the first heats provided several confirmations among the present champions but also a few surprises.
The traditional event organized by Parma Motorsport this year also boasts excellent participation with over 240 entrants from 42 nations across the categories KZ2, OKJ, MINI, X30 Junior, and Senior. This confirms the event's international nature, with drivers joining not only from Europe but also from Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United States.
In the KZ2 category, Cristian Bertuca (#139 Bertuca/BirelART-TM) stood out in the qualifying practice with the fastest overall time of 1:02.559s, ahead of Giacomo Pollini (#131 NGM Motorsport/Kalì Kart-TM) who posted a 1:02.809s in the second session. In the international OK-Junior category, the newly crowned world champion Dries Van Langendonck (#316 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM) showcased his skills with the best time of 1:04.171s in the second session, while Ludovico Busso (#308 Ward Racing/Tony KartVortex) was the fastest in the first session with a time of 1:04.472s.
In MINI Gr.3, the Canadian Ilie Crisan Tristan (#528 Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony KartVortex) secured the top spot with a time of 1:11.860s posted in the second session. Pietro Bagutti (#523 Gamoto/EKS-TM) had been the fastest in the first session with a time of 1:12.106s.
In MINI Gr.3 Under 10, the quickest time was set by the young Ukrainian Oleksandr Legenkyi (#616 Team Driver/KR-Iame) with a time of 1:12.582s in session 1. Alessandro Nanni (#634 Gamoto/EKS-TM) was the surprise with the best time in session 2 at 1:13.220s.
X30 Senior was won by Francesco Marenghi (#421 DCR Motorsport/Tony Kart-Iame) with a time of 1:07.606s, followed by Mattia Limena (#425 Vemmekart/Vemmekart-Iame) at 0.193s behind and Andrea Barbieri (#424 TBKart Racing Team/TBKart-Iame) at 0.345s.
In X30 Junior, the fastest time was posted by Matteo Melis (#228 TBKart Racing Team/TBKart-Iame) in 1:08.231s. He led his teammate Roberto Castellozzi by 0.334s and the Swedish driver Fred Saareks (#204 AD Motorsport/Energy-Iame) by 0.661s.
The winners of the first heats held on Friday are:
KZ2: Heat A-B Cristian Bertuca (ITA), Heat C-D Slavik Putiatin (UKR).
MINI Gr.3: Heat A-B William Calleja (AUS).
MINI Gr.3 Under 10: Heat A-B Oleksandr Legenkyi (UKR).
OKJ: Heat A-B Dries Van Langendonk (BEL)
The program will continue on Saturday, October 21st with the final heats. Second chance races, prefinals, and finals with Live Streaming coverage will be on Sunday, October 22nd.